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Army Commander, Lt. Gen. Jagath Jayasuriya today categorically refuted the accusations leveled against him by the ex-Chief of Defence Staff, General Sarath Fosenka. At a meeting held at Kilinochchi, Army 58 Division Headquarters with the participation of high-ranking officials of the Army who directly contributed in the humanitarian mission to liberate the North, Commander Jayasuriya noted that the logic behind General Fonseka’s argument that he (Lt. Gen. Jayasuriya) should not be promoted to the rank of Army Commander is baseless and said that the Commanding Officers, Brigade Commanders, Task Force Commanders, and Divisional Commanders who actively participated in the mission to liberate the country from the clutches of terrorism will substantiate his contribution in the ground operations. “The staff present here today will evident whether I was serving in ‘Hold Formation’ position as claimed by Gen. Fonseka or offensive operations,” he said. Commander Jayasuriya said that Gen. F

India has released the 51 Sri Lankan fishermen being held in the Andaman Islands , Deputy Fisheries Minister Neomal Perera told Ada Derana. He said that upon considering the humanitarian nature of the plea and talks with the Lankan government India decided to release the fishermen. He added that 51 Sri Lankan fishermen were held for the past seven months along with their 9 vessels. The long detention of the fishermen has led to protest demonstrations by their family members and trade unions here in Sri Lanka .

President is ready to face any challenger at an upcoming presidential election, Media Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena told exclusively to Ada Derana. He also confirmed the statement made by the President that if CDS General Sarath Fonseka submitted his resignation from the post, he would accept it immediately. He also added that normally the leader of a party comes forward as the Presidential candidate and the mere fact that the opposition is putting forward someone other than their leader shows the parties bankruptcy.

Nishantha Muthuhettigama has been arrested by a special police team in Yakkalamulla, Galle moments ago, Senior DIG Southern Province Kingsley Ekanayaka told Ada Derana. Ekanayaka told Ada Derana earlier that a special police team was deployed to arrest SPC member Nishantha Muthuhettigama over an arrest warrant. The arrest warrant is regarding the incident where he allegedly threatened the Galle District Secretary.

As a citizen and a former Finance Minister, it would be inappropriate to present a Budget and bind, possibly, a new government for the greater part of next year, says former Finance Minister K.N. Choksy, according to a media release by the Government Information Department. The institution of the Executive Presidency should not be abolished in a hurry. The powers attached to the Office could be reconsidered and modified where necessary. But the Office itself should be continued, says a statement by the United National Party’s (UNP) former Finance, constitutional and State Affairs Minister K.N. Choksy. The Opposition in Parliament, I am confident, will look at the issue in this perspective, and make a well considered decision. The issue is of vital importance to the nation, adds Mr. Choksy in the statement. The full text of the statement: Statement by Hon. K.N. Choksy, PC, Member of Parliament and former Minister of Finance and Former Minister of Constitutional and State Affairs. T

Two teenage boys aged 13 and 14 are among the Sri Lankans missing feared dead after a boat carrying suspected asylum-seekers capsized. Home Affairs Minister Brendan Nelson confirmed tonight that “Initial indications are that 39 males were believed to have been onboard, including two youths aged 13 and 14 who remain missing” after the boat sunk on Sunday night. One body has been recovered and a further two have been sighted in the water. There are 11 people still missing. “There are grave concerns for those persons still unaccounted for,” Mr O’Connor said. “The 27 survivors will be taken to Christmas Island, where appropriate medical treatment and mental health support, including grief counselling, will be available. Their health and wellbeing is our first priority. Other checks, including identity and reasons for travel, will commence in due course.” Two Royal Australian Air Force AP3 Orions, a Customs and Border Protection Dash 8 aircraft and an AMSA Dornier are participati

Fiji has ordered the envoys of New Zealand and Australia, its two biggest neighbours, to leave within 24 hours. The country’s military ruler, Commodore Frank Bainimarama, has accused the two countries of interfering in Fiji ’s internal affairs. Cmdr Bainimarama wants to hire a group of Sri Lankan judges after sacking the judiciary earlier this year. Fiji has accused Australia and New Zealand of placing a travel ban on the judges if they took up the posts. Cmdr Bainimarama took power in a coup in 2006 and was reappointed prime minister in April by the president two days after a court ruled the coup and subsequent government was illegal. The two countries have placed travel bans on all senior officials in Fiji ’s government because of the coup. BBC

An international syndicate, believed to be headed by expatriate Sri Lankan Tamils, are targeting their countrymen in Malaysia to make a fast buck has been busted. Making use of local thugs, the syndicate abducts their targets — mostly in the Klang Valley — and demand ransom from family members either in Sri Lanka or in other countries. It is believed the syndicate’s ring leaders — who live in Paris , France — would be the ones contacting the victim’s family members to collect the ransom money. This apparently lucrative “venture” came to a halt on Saturday when a police team from the Kuala Lumpur Serious Crimes Branch raided a house in Setapak and arrested six local men. Police also rescued two Sri Lankan men in their 20s, who were believed to have been confined at the house since they were kidnapped several days before the police raid. Both men told police that they had been tortured by their kidnappers. It has not been determined whether their family members have been contacted